Trigger actuated pump

Abstract

A manually actuated trigger pump is adapted to be fitted on the neck of a container for dispensing a liquid therefrom. The pump includes a main housing with a trigger connected thereto, a flexible bladder which fits in the housing and is engagable by the trigger, and a nozzle which is attached to the housing. The trigger engages the bladder to pump fluid from the bladder outwardly through the nozzle.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A manually operable liquid dispensing pump for use and incorporation on a container for a liquid to be dispensed comprising, in combination: a. tubular bladder means having flexible walls which expand to their natural profile when depressed and relaxed, said bladder means having an upstream end and a downstream end, said downstream end having an integrally molded one-way valve means that permits fluid to flow outwardly from said bladder means, said upstream end of said bladder means being open to permit fluid to flow into said bladder means;   b. a one-piece, integrally molded housing means having: i. cavity means for receiving and containing said bladder means,   ii. channel means communicating with said cavity means, said channel means being located substantially adjacent to said upstream end of said bladder means and between said upstream end and said downstream end of said bladder means when said bladder means is received in said cavity means, said upstream end of said bladder means sealing one end of said channel means to prevent fluids from entering said cavity means from said channel means when said bladder means is in a depressed position or in its natural profile, and permitting fluids to enter said bladder means while said bladder means is expanding to its natural profile,   iii. vent means for conveying air from the outside of said container to the inside of said container; and,     c. trigger means connected to said housing means for depressing said bladder means to pump fluids therefrom.   
     
     
       2. The pump of claim 1 wherein nozzle means is located in said cavity means downstream from said bladder means. 
     
     
       3. The pump of claim 1 wherein said housing means has a lower tapered end means which is connectable to closure means. 
     
     
       4. The pump of claim 1 wherein said valve means is a nipple-type valve. 
     
     
       5. The pump of claim 1 wherein said upstream end of said bladder means has walls which are thinner in thickness toward said upstream end, and said upstream end acts as a one-way valve to permit fluids to enter said upstream end of said bladder means. 
     
     
       6. The pump of claim 1 wherein said housing means has a thin leaf-like strip molded therein adjacent to said cavity means to provide a skid plate for said trigger means when said trigger means is depressed. 
     
     
       7. The pump of claim 1 wherein said trigger means is integrally molded with said housing means. 
     
     
       8. The pump of claim 1 wherein said vent means comprises a hollow channel molded into said housing means. 
     
     
       9. A manually operable liquid dispensing pump for use and incorporation on a container for a liquid to be dispensed comprising, in combination: a. tubular bladder means having flexible walls which expand to their natural profile when depressed and relaxed, said bladder means having an upstream end and a downstream end, said downstream end having an integrally molded one-way valve means that permits fluid to pass outwardly from said bladder means, said upstream end of said bladder means being open to permit fluids to flow into said bladder means;   b. a one-piece, integrally molded housing means having: i. cavity means for receiving and containing said bladder means, said cavity means being disposed in a generally horizontal plane when said container is in an upright position,   ii. channel means communicating with said cavity means, said channel means being substantially axially aligned with said container, said channel means being located substantially adjacent to said upstream end of said bladder means and between said upstream end and said downstream end of said bladder means when said bladder means is received in said cavity means, said upstream end of said bladder means sealing one end of said channel means to prevent fluids from entering said cavity means from said channel means when said bladder means is in a depressed position or in its natural profile, and to permit fluids to enter said bladder means while said bladder means is expanding to its natural profile,   iii. vent means for conveying air from the outside of said container to the inside of said container; and,     c. trigger means connected to said housing means for depressing said bladder means to pump fluids therefrom.   
     
     
       10. The pump of claim 9 wherein said housing means has a lower tapered end means which is connectable to closure means. 
     
     
       11. The pump of claim 9 wherein said valve means is a nipple-type valve. 
     
     
       12. The pump of claim 9 wherein said upstream end of said bladder means has walls which are thinner in thickness toward said upstream end. 
     
     
       13. The pump of claim 9 wherein said housing means has a thin leaf-like strip molded therein adjacent to said cavity means to provide a skid plate for said trigger means when said trigger means is depressed. 
     
     
       14. The pump of claim 9 wherein said trigger means is integrally molded with said housing means. 
     
     
       15. The pump of claim 9 wherein nozzle means is located in said cavity means downstream from said one-way valve means. 
     
     
       16. The pump of claim 9 wherein said vent means comprises a hollow channel molded into said housing means.